Safety attachment for elevators



{No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. I. PYLE. SAFETY ATTAGHMENT FOR ELEVATORS.

No. 556,771 Patented Mar. 24, 1896.

. 7 wnuassas: 1 a) .INVENTOR "MM/[1W n 13 BY 105mm (I ATTORNEY (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

ELLPYLE. SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR ELEVATORS.

Patented "Mam.v 24, 1896.

INVENTOR WlTNESSES:

AN DREW 5 GRANAM.PHOTO-UTHQWASNKNGYON. QC

5 SheetsSheet 3.

' (No Model.)

' E I. PYLE.

SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR ELEVATORS. No, 556,771. Patented Mar. 24, 1896.

AN DREW B.GRMIAM. Mme-mun. WASNNGTDM. D C

(No'ModeL) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

B. I. PYLE. SAFETY ATTAGHMENT FOR ELEVATORS.

Patented Mar. 24, 1896.

\WWWM WETN ESSE UNITED STATES PATENT @rricn.

EDIVIN I. PYLE, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONXECTICUT.

SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR ELEVATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,771, dated March 24, 1896.

Application filed November 29, 1895. Serial No. 570,472. No model.)

port, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Attachments for Elevators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in elevator safety attachments and has especial reference to the looking of the gates opening into the elevatorshaft.

The object of my invention is to provide a device of this description which shall automatically notify the operator, should he attempt to leave an entrance before the elevator-shaft gate therein has been securely locked, and warn him to return and properly lock said gate.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is an interior perspective of an elevator-car, through the door way of which maybe seen a gate which closes an entrance leading from the building to the elevator-car, said car and gate being equipped with my invention; Fig. 2, a vertical sectional elevation of the alarm-box Fig. 3, a sectional elevation taken on the line a: a; of Fig. 2; Fig. at, a perspective view of the alarm-box, showing particularly the bell ringing mechanism ,but with the bell removed Fig. 5, a detail elevation of the key used to unlock the gatelock; Fig. 6, a detail sec tional elevation of the gate-lock and keeper in locked position; 7, a horizontal sectional elevation taken on the line of Fig. (3; Fig. 8, a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the parts in unlocked position; Fig. 9, a View similar to Fig. 6, but showing the parts in unlocked position with the spring-actuated y latchfingers closed snugly around the actuating-cam; and Fig. lO is a detail sectional elevation taken on the line y y of Fig. 7.

Similar numbers and letters of reference denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring particularly to Figs. 6, 7, S, 9, and 10, which illustrate the gate-lock I employ, 1 is the lock-casing and 2 3 are springactuated latch-fingers pivoted at 4: within the casing.

5 isan egg-shaped cam provided with a hub (3, which fits within a circular opening 7 in one side of the lock-casing, whereby said cam is pivoted within said casing and is free to turn in either direction.

8 is a rectangular-shaped recess in the face of the cam 5, and 9 is a similarly-shaped recess in the back of said cam.

10 is a system of toggle-levers pivoted at 11 12 to the latch-fingers 3, which operate after the manner of lazy-tongs.

13 is a spring-actuated detent fitting within a recess let in the casing.

15 are two notches in the periphery of the hub 6, with which the detent 13 is adapted to engage, as will be readily seen by reference to Figs. 7 and 10.

16 is the key (see Fig. having a rectangular-shaped bit 17, which is adapted to fit within the recess 8 in the face of the cam The stem 18 of the key is made considerably smaller in diameter than the bit in order to afford a shoulder 19, for a purpose that will be presently explained.

The toggles or lazy-tongs 10 work within a recess 20 in the casing immediately in front of the rectangular recess 8 in the face of the cam, and the keyhole 31, which corresponds in shape to the recess 8, except that it is somewhat flared, is immediately in front of the lazy-tongs.

Now it will be understood that unless the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 6 (wherein the recess 8 in the face of the cam registers with the keyhole and the lazy-tongs also shape themselves to form a rectangular figure, the center of which forms a square in perfect alignment and registering with the keyhole and also with the recess 8 in the face of the cam) it will be impossible to insert the key within the lock. When the key has been inserted within the look so that the bit 17 fits properly within the recess 8, it maybe turned in either direction, so that the cam 5 will spread the latch-fingers, as shown in Fig. 8, to the unlocked position. The key cannot now be withdrawn'for the reason that the lazytongs have become distended and the opening in the center thereof is no longer of the rectangular shape as when the key was inserted, buthas become distorted, and the levers which form the lazy-tongs will now prevent the removal of the key, because they have closed in behind the shoulder 19, nor can the key be removed should the parts be brought to the closed position shown in Fig. 9, for the opening in the center of the lazytongs will then be too small and of a shape that will not permit the passage of the keybit therethrough.

It will be understood that the only time it is desired to remoy e the key is when the parts are in the locked position, so that the gate A, to which the lock is applied, will be entirely closed when said key is removed.

The detent 13, previously described, is not sufficient to prevent the rotation of the cam 5when it is desired to unlatch the look, but is only used to prevent the accidental rotation of the cam when the parts are in the locked position, as shown in Fig. 6, and, the key has been withdrawn, for should the cam be rotated to the position shown in Fig. 9 by some sudden shock or jarring after the key has been removed the recess 8 in the face of said cam would not register with the keyhole and, therefore, when it would be desired to unlock the lock, the key could not be inserted. Of course, were the parts fitted together very tightly, so asto cause quite a friction when they were operated, this of itself would prevent the accidental turning of the cam; but as the parts become loose by constant wear the registering of the recess 8 in the face of the cam, with the keyhole and theopening formed by the levers of the lazytongs, would no longer be insured.

22is a keeper which is shaped after the manner of an arrow-head, so that the fingers may ride up the inclined faces thereof and then latch over the shoulders at the terminals of these faces. hen the fingers are in this latched position, the various parts, including the toggles 10, will be in the position shown at Fig. 6 and the key may then be readily removed. lt'is important that during the latching of the fingers, or at the time when the latter are traveling up the inclined faces of the keeper, said fingers shall notassulne the same relative position which they take when ""they are latched, the reason for this being that if these fingers during their travel along the inclined faces of the keeper could assume the same position as when latched the toggles and parts moving in harmony therewith would be brought into sucha position that the key could be withdrawn before the gate was locked, and this would of course defeat the purposes of my invention. It is therefore necessary that these fingers when'latched should have been swung to a relative position, which could never be attained during the travel of these fingers along the inclined faces of the kecper,and this of course can be brought about in several ways.

In the drawings I have shown one of the faces of the keeper longer than the other, these faces being inclined at different angles to a horizontal plane passing through their intersection, and I have also shown one of the fingers 3 as much longer than the other finger 2 as one of the faces of the keeper is longer than the other face. Furthermore, the latching-tooth at the end of the finger 3 is longer than the corresponding tooth at the end of the finger 2, so that it will be clear after the tooth on the finger 3 has passed beyond the longer face of the keeper said finger will be thrownfarther when latching than the finger 2 is thrown. Now, while it is not necessary that the faces of the keeper and the fingers should be of different lengths, and that said faces should be inclined at different angles to a horizontal plane passing through their intersection, so long as there is a lack of uniformity in the throw of the fingers during the act of latching, nevertheless the con struction shown is very well adapted for the purposes of my invention, although there is no particular object in view in making the keeper and fingers in the manner referred to. It will be readily comprehended, however, that if the faces of the keeper are of the same length and at the same angle to a horizontal plane passing through their intersection they will act upon the fingers to spread the same apart uniformly and at the same rate of speed. and that if these fingers are thrown one farther than the other during latching their relative position, such as they occupy when latched, can never be effected by the action of the keeper. It will also be clear that it the faces of the keeper are of the same length,

but inclined at different angles to a horizonfingers when in locked position intersect the inclined faces of the keeper at points which are in the same vertical plane.

It will thus be clear that no matter what may be the angle at which the faces of the keeper are inclined to the horizontal plane which passesthrough their intersection, the faces of the keeper can never put these fingers in the relative position which they take when locked.

As far as the difference in the length of the fingers and the keeper-faces is concerned, this of course has no bearing whatever upon the proper operation of my improvement as far as the attaining'of the object above noted is concerned, and for all practical purposes these fingers and faces may be of the same length.

Of course it would be possible, by taking considerable pains, to throw these fingers ITO into the relative position which they occupy when locked by the manipulation of the key; but this is not deemed to be a material defect, since it is not to be supposed that theelevator operator deliberately tries to do this, the end in view which I have being to prevent the accidental placing of the fingers in this position, so that the key can be withdrawn when the door is not really looked. However, if the cam were so shaped that both fingers did not bear against the same when in locked position, the latter position could not be effected by the movement of this cam, and although this is not the construction shown in the drawings still it is within the range of ordinary mechanical skill and as such is fully within the province of my invention.

As previously stated, the one important object of my invention is to compel the operator to securely close the gateways leading to the elevator, and, owing to the fact that the key is carried by him when the car is in motion, the key must therefore be withdrawn from the look before ascending or descending to another floor, and to do this he must entirely close and lock the gate.

Referring; now to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and at, which illustrate the construction of the alarm-box,

is a stationary shaft rigid with the supporting-bracket 24.

is a drum loosely jonrnaled on said shaft, and 26 is a volute spring, one end of which is fastened to the stationary shaft 23, while the other end is secured to the drum 25.

27 is a strap wound around the periphery of the drum 25 and attached thereto at 28.

29 is a casing loosely hung on'the shaft 23 and held in place by the drum 25.

30 is an opening in the periphery of the casing through which the strap 27 may be drawn off from the drum. As the strap 27 is drawn oil the drum through the opening in the casin g said drum will be rotated to wind up the spring 26, and when said strap is released the action of said spring will cause said strap to be rewound upon said drum.

31 is a stop fastened to the end of the strap 27 to limit the inward movement of the latter.

32 is a chain of convenient length, one end of which is fastened to the stop 31 on the end of the strap, while the other end of said chain is attached to the key 16.

33 is a crown ratchet-wheel loosely journaled on the end of the shaft 23, and 34 is a nut which takes on a thread formed on the end of said shaft and secures the ratchetwheel 33, drum 25, and casing 29 as against lateral movement.

is a ratchet formed on the periphery of the crown ratchet-wheel 33, and 36 is a springactuated pawl pi voted to the face of the drum 25 and engaging said ratchet 85. hen the drum 25 turns in the direction indicated by the arrow on Fig. 4, which is caused by unwinding the strap 27, said drum will carry with it the crown ratchet-wheel but when said drum is caused to turn in the opposite direction by the action of the volute spring 26 when the strap 27 is released the pawl 36 will slip idly over the ratchet and the crown ratchet-wheel will not be rotated.

37 is a squared pin having a rounded threaded portion 38, which is screwed into the end of the shaft 23.

39 is a crown-ratchet similar to the ratchet 33 and adapted to mesh therewith.

4C is a squared hole in the center of the ratchet 39, through which the squared portion of the pin 37 passes.

41 is an arm formed integral with the pin 37 or secured thereto in any desired manner, and 42 is a bell-crank lever pivoted to the extremity of said arm and carrying at one end a bell-clapper 43.

4:4 is a link, one end of which is pivoted to the bell-crank at 45, while the other end is pivoted between ears 46 formed on the flat outer face of the ratchet 39.

47 is a bell secured on the outer end of the pin 37 by a nut 48,which takes on the threaded end of said pin.

49 is a coil-spring interposed between the arm 41 and the ratchet 30, the tendency of said spring being to keep the two crown ratchet-wheels pressed together.

\Vhen the drum 25 is rotated in the direction of the arrow on Fig. 4, the teeth on the crown ratchet-wheel 33 will cause the ratchet 39 to be thrust away from said ratchet-wheel 33 against the resiliency of the spring 49 until the inclines of the crown-teeth have been traversed, when the spring 49 will force the ratchet 39 back to its normal position with a quick movement, thus causing the clapper 4L3 to strike the bell, as will be apparent by reference to Fig. at.

The key by which the elevator-shaft gatelatch is unlocked being attached to the chain which is secured to the strap 27, it will be evident that should the operator move the car away from the gate before withdrawing said key from the lock the moving of the car will cause the strap to be unwound from off the drum 25, which will cause the bell to ring, thus notifying the operator to return and properly close and lock the gate before proceeding further.

I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction shown and described, for the reason that the several features may be altered in various ways without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a safety attachment for elevators, the combination of the gate which closes the entrance leading to the elevator-shaft, the alarm carried by the elevator-car, the latch applied to said gate, the keeper secured at the side of said entrance and with which said latch is adapted to engage, the key by which said latch combination of the elevator-shaft gate,:the' latch carried thereby, the key for operating said latch and incapable of beingwithdrawn from the latter eXceptwhen-said.latch. is in locked. position, the alarm carried by the elevatorcar, and a connection between said alarm and key, substantiallyasset forth.

3. The combination of the elevator-shaft gate, the lock secured thereto and operated as set forth, the keeperwhich said. lock-engages,'thekey for. operating said lock, an alarm-box carried by the elevator-car, and a suitable connection between said alarntbox and key, substantially as set forth.

4. :In a device of the character described, thecombination of the elevator-shaft gate, the lock carried thereby and comprising a casing and spring-actuated latch-fingers .pivoted within said casing, a cam for operating said latch-fingers, a keeper'secured within the entrance to the elevator-shaft and with which'said fingers engage, the key by which said cam isoperated, and means operated and controlled by said. latch-fingers for preventing the insertion or withdrawal of said key except when the parts are in locked position, substantially as set forth.

5. In a device of the character described,

a lock comprising a casing, spring-actuated.

latch-fingers pivoted within said casing, a cam for spreading said. latch-fingers to unlocked position, and provided with a recess which aligns and registers with the-keyhole when inlocked position, and instrumentalities interposed between said cam and the keyhole, whereby the key is prevented from being inserted or withdrawn except when the parts are in locked position, substantially as setforth.

(3. In a device of the character described, a lock comprising a casing, spring-actuated latch-fingers pivoted within said casing, a cam for spreading said latch-fingers to unlocked positionand provided with a recess which. aligns and registers with, the keyhole whenin locked. position, a detent for retaining said cam ashagainst accidental rotation when in'locked position, and instrumentalities interposed between said cam and keyhole, whereby the key is prevented. from being inserted or withdrawn except when the parts are in-locked position,substantially as set. forth.

7. Ina device of 1 the character described. a lock comprising a casing, spring-actuated latchriingers pivotedwithin said casing, a cam for .spreadingsaid latch-fingers to unlocked-position and provided with a recess whichaligns and registerswit-h the keyhole when in locked position, a detent for retaining said cam as against accidental rotation. a system of levers forming lazy-tongs interposed between said cam and keyhole and pivoted to the latch-fingers, substantially asset forth.

8. The combination of the drum journaled on a shaft rigid with the securing-brackct. the strap for rotating said drum, thespring interposed between said drum and shaft. whereby said drum is returned to normal position, the crown-ratchets mounted at the end of said shaft one of said ratchets being held as against rotary movement while at the same time being free to slide, the spring-actuated pawl; on the face of said drum. engaging ratchet-teeth formed on the periphery of one of said crown-ratchets, the bell-crank lever pivoted to .an arm rigid with the securingbracket and carrying a clapper, at one end and connectedat the other end with the sliding crown-ratchet, the bell, and the spring interposed between said ratchet and arm, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN I. PYLE. lVitnesses M T. LONGDEN, .T. S. FINoH. 

